Combined drawbar and axle-supporting apparatus for car trucks



I c. s. CARD. COMBINED DRAWBAR AND AXLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRUCKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4. 1922.

Patented .Tune 13, 1922.

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COMBINED DRAWBAR AND AXLE SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR CAR TRUCKS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.4..I922.l

Patented June 13, 4'1922'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LII II I-- n I Lavencor narran STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. CARD, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

Application filed March 4,

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. CARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Combined Drawbar and Axle- Supporting Apparatus for Car Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined drawbar and axle supporting apparatus for car trucks.

And the objects of my invention are:

First. To provide ore, coal or other material conveying cars with combined truck axle supporting journal boxes and draw-bar mechanisms that are supported and operatively arranged and a're fully contained in one integral casting, and that can be quickly secured to the bottoms of the cars.

Second. To provide two independent, resilient yielding draw-bar mechanisms for the opposite ends of ore and other material carrying car trucks that operate entirely independently of each other, but that will operate at the same time or at different times, as when a single car is moved or a train of cars is moved.

Third. To provide a draw-bar apparatus that yields resiliently enough when starting a car, when motive pulling power is attached to one end of it, to completely break the solid jerking of it, and that will start and f move it with a gradual drawing movement,

but which will, when the car is started, draw it by a pull against a solid metal portion of its axle and draw-bar supporting housings, and which will at the same time, if another car is attached to the opposite end draw-bar mechanism of the car to which the motive power has been attached, start that car with a resiliently yielding pull that also ends in a pull against the solid metal of the draw-bars housing.

l attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which.'

Figure l is a side elevation showing two coupled ore cars, constructed in accordance with my invention, one of the carr trucks being shown in longitudinal section, the other in side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the trucks, on the line 2--2 of Figure l, the draw bar, and spring surrounding the same being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through specification of Lettersratent. Patented June 13, 1922.

1922. Serial No. 541,108.

one of the car wheels, showing the manner of securing the same upon the axle.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the improved draw bar and axle supporting members.

Figa 5 is a side view of the same, and Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on ythe line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Y Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the severalv views.

-Two independently constructed but combined draw-bar and axle supporting mechanisms are placed under the truck portion l of each car body 2, one under each end portion of each truck. They are both alike in construction, but their car pulling ends face in opposite directions, and as their constructive details are alike, the following description of one will apply to the other.

Referring to the drawings:

The numeral l designates the truck the sides 3 of which are made of channel bars. The numeral 4 designates a casting, which I term the combined axle and draw-bar mechanism supporting member of the truck l. The casting 4 is secured by bolts 5 to the lower inside foot member 6 of the side bars 3.

The casting 4 is a one piece integrally moulded casting, and it is made long enough to extend across theentire width of the under side of the truck and far enough beyond it to form journal boxes 7 at its ends. An axle 8 extends rotatably through and beyond these journal boxes 7, and beyond them far enough to receive the car and truck wheels 9, which are mounted on the ends of the axles and are secured there by i spring cotter pins 10, insertedin holes in the outside hubs ll of the truck wheels 9 andV are j aassed-through apertures in the end portions of the axle 8, the holes being closed by screw openings 12. The ends of the journal boxes 7 are made in the form of sleeves 3 which are formed to extend over the hubs 1 1 of the car wheels, and they are also made enough larger than these hubs to form a packing box for a flax or other packing ring or band 13A which is placed in the sleeves around the hubs of the wheels, and retains the lubricant in the journal boxes 7. Washers 7A are placed against the end walls of the boxes 7, which receive the wear of the inner ends of the wheel hubs and a renewable hard steel lining sleeve 7B is inserted in the wheel hub between which V'axle, and-thecas`ting is` formed with a flat plate central portion 15 that stands above and'f-ree from the axle, which arrangement brings allot :the weight ot the truck and the car on the axle in the journal boxes of fthe casting'which are located under the opposite side edge portions oi the underside ofitheframe 3 of the truck 1.

A square-shaped open-topped box member 15A, isv formed in the center of the casting lengthwise of the truck, that has closed sides 16, and' ends 17 and 17A, and it is oit a height above theplate portion oi' the casting, and is also of a width to form a box shaped housing recess, pocket18 for a coiled spring 19,

and ribs 2O extend from the top edges and the. sides of this box portion Vat an angle downto 'the opposite edges of -the lHat portion ofthe casting.

The spring 19 is made to fit snugly in bev4tvv'een the opposite end 17 and a collar` 22 of the recess 18, and a draw-bar 23 is extended sli'dably and reciprocally through an aperture formed in theend 17 of the springs ,hou-sing box and also through a sleeve 24k that is mounted in the housing box of the spring, and beyond their opposite ends a short distance, and the draw-bar extends loosely through the coils ofthe spring and .supportsthe spring free from contact with thesides or 'bottom of' the box, and the spring is free to movevon the draw-bar independently of the reciprocal movement of the draw-bar when it compresses it or when ,the spring expands after being released by the draw-bar by compression, as will be fully explained hereinafter.

The collar 22 is secured to the inner end of the sleeve2ll, which is mounted loosely on the draw-bar and is also mounted slidably in the end 17A o'l the springs housing box,

and this ,sleeve extends a short distance. bej yondthe end 17A of the; box, and an abutment collar 25 is secured on its end.

'The length oi, this sleeve between the in side ofthe abutment25 and the end 17A of the box ismade of such a `rela-tive length to thedength ot the spring and thecombined distances between the-,coils of the spring that V.the,abutment'collar 25 will move andV bear againstthe end 17A of the box before the spring-.is fully compressed, so that its coils would not come in bearing contact with each other, or even in such close position to each other as would tend to crystallize and thus cause the spring to break Jfrom the repeated concussions itvwould receive if the collar and the draw-bar drew its coils tightly against eachother every time a car was started.

The inner terminal end portion 26 of the draw-bar isprovided with a tapered key 27 that extends through the draw-bar and is secured to it by a split pin 28, and the key yis made long enough so that its ends extend across and bear against the collar. The opposite `end or' the draw-bar projects forward from the end 17 of the springs housing box, and an eye disc 31 is `formed at its end, to lwhich chain links 32 are connected.

I have preferably described the combined draw-bar and axle supporting apparatus of the iront end 30 of the truck as illustrated Lin side elevation in Figure 1 of the drawings, but the other axle and its draw-bar mechanismare secured further back kfrom the rear end 33 ofthe truck than the one at the end 30 of the truck, and its draw-bar 34rhas to be made long enough to extend beyond the rear end of the truck in order to be readily connected to another car, and the end o'l' the eyed and linked end oi' this draw-bar is provided `with a hook 35, that will hook into the links like the chain links 32, on the front end of another car equipped with a duplicate set of rods, combined drawbar and axle supporting apparatus.

The operation of my combined draw-bar and axle supporting apparatus for ore and other material conveying cars is as follows:

Motive power, which may be of any suitj i started to start the train of cars which j have been previously coupled together, the draw-bar 23 is pulled forward, its key 27 engages the collar 211 and pushes it and its sleeve and the collar 211; forward, which causes the collar 24, which is against the adjacent end o'f the spring, to compress the spring, which takes thewhole strain o'f'the pulling power of the motor, and this spring is made o'l a resilient tension that enables it to be compressed enough by the pull of the motor to start the loaded car rolling on the track and to move it; therefore, the coils oit the springvare compressed enough to almost but not quite bear against `each other, and the collar 2-il has moved up against .the end 17A-ot the springs housing box when the draw-bar pulls the loadedy car by meansof the collar bearing against the springs housing box, and the spring is relieved from iurther compression, and its coils will not be The holes X in' the ends 17 ot lthe boxes 15A are square, and the portions of the drawbars 28 and 34 which normally rest in these holes, are also square in cross Section, and the draw-bars are thus prevented from turning axially in the boxes 15A, whereby the hooks 35 of the draw-bars 34 are prevented from becoming disconnected from the link 32 of the draw-bar 23.

I have thus provided duplicate sets of resiliently starting 'draw-box mechanism 'for the track member of each ore, coal or other material conveying car, which are placed at its opposite vend portions Which, While Wholly independent of each other, cooperatively assist in cushioning the starting movement of each car and ot all the cars in a train of cars; that is, the resiliently yielding draw-bars ot all ot the cars in a train ot cars mutually coact to cushion the starting, slowing up and stop movement of each one and at the same time'of all the cars in a train of cars. Consequently my invention contemplates broadly the application oi my non-breakable cushioning spring, and my combined draw-bar and axle supporting integral casting so varranged that all of the cars in a train of cars assist in cushioning the starting movement of each other, And my' invention alsoprotects the springs trom breakage by preventing the sudden and violent jamming oftheir coils together, and at the same time I have provided a onepiece supporting casting member for the axles and for all of the elements oi' the two draw-bar mechanisms ot each cars track; and While I have illustrated and described the preferred construction of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the detail construction and arrangement ot the parts thereof, as changes may be made in it Without departing from the spirit of my inven tion.

Having Vdescribed my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l, A draw-bar and axle-supporting mechanism operatively mounted in duplicate sets on the opposite ends ol' cars, each set being independent of the other, and eachmounted in one integral one-piece casting.

2. A draw-bar and axle-supporting mechanism operatively mounted in duplicate sets on the opposite ends of cars, each .set being independent of the other, each of said draw mechanisms comprising a railway track wheel supporting axle, journal and lubricating packing boxes on said casting, said packing boxes being arranged to surround the inner hubs of said track Wheels.

3. A draw-bar and axle-supporting mechanism operatively mounted in duplicate sets on the opposite ends ot cars, each set being independent of the other, and each mounted in one integral one-piece casting, said casting being provided With a reciprocating draw-bar, a spring mounted on said draw-bar, and abutments at the opposite ends of said spring, one of which is arranged to compress said spring, and means connected with said draw-bar for limiting the compressive movement of said spring, and tor bringing said draw-bar into pulling engagement with said casting at one end, and car or motive power connecting means on the opposite outer ends of said drawbars.

4L. The combination in trucks of cars, ot a one piece casting provided With a packing box containing journal boxes and a compressive spring housing box, a compressive spring mounted in said housing box, and a draw-bar With a sliding sleeve member for compressing said spring, and means for connecting one car to another.

5. The combination in trucks of cars, of a one piece casting provided with a packing box containing journal boxes and a compressive spring housing box, a compressive spring mounted in said housing box, and a draw-bar With a sliding sleeve member for compressing said spring, said sleeve member of. said draw-bar being arranged to compress said spring when pulled to start the car, and to engage said casting after said car has been started and before the coils ot said spring have been compressed against each other.

6. The combinationot a draw-bar apparatus tor cars, comprising a one-piece casting at each end portion ot said car, arranged t0 support the axle of the car, and a resiliently cushioning draw-bar mechanism mounted on each axle supporting casting arranged to start the cars by the resilient means, but to pull it by a direct pull on said casting.

7. rlhe combination of combined and duplicate sets of axle supporting and resiliently yielding draw-bar apparatus operatively mounted in a one piece, integrally moulded casting, and secured to the opposite ends ot cars.

8. The combination of combined and duplicate sets of axle supporting and resiliently yielding draw-bar apparatus operatively mounted in a one piece, integrally moulded casting, and secured to the opposite ends ot' cars, said axle supporting casting being provided with journal boxes fitting the axles of said trucks, andihavingpacking box members at theirI outer ends.

9. The combination of combined and duplicate sets of axle supporting and resiliently yielding draw-bar apparatus operatively mounted in a one piece, integrally moulded casting, and secured to thev opposite ends of ears, said axle supporting casting being provided with journal boxes.` fitting the axles of said trucks, and-having packing'box members at their outer ends, said draw-bar apparatus comprising a housing box portion, a compressive spring in said housing box, a draw-bar extending through said housing box and spring, and meansmounted on said draw-bar for compressing said spring a predetermined part of its coil closing movement, and means whereby said draw-bar engages said castings housing box when said springis at the end of its adjusted compressivef movement.

`10. The combination ofy combined and duplicate sets of axle supporting and resiliently yielding draw-bar apparatus operatively mounted in a onepiece, integrally moulded casting, and secured to the opposite ends of cars, saidaxle supporting casting being provided'with journal boxes fitting the axles of said trucks, and having packing box members at their outer ends, said draw-bar apparatus comprising a .housing box portion, ay compressive spring insaid housing box, a draw-bar extending through said housing box and spring; and means mounted on said draw-bar for compressing said spring a predetermined part of its coil closing movement, and means whereby said draw-bar engages said castings housing box when said spring is at theend of its adjusted compressive movement, said spring compression limiting means comprising a sleeve slidably mounted in saidhousing box and mounted on the inner end-portionof saiddraw-bar, and a collar on one end of said spring in said housing-box and in engagement with the inner' end ofvsaid spring, an abutment collar on said sleeve outside of said housing box .andan abutment on said draw-bar in engagement with said abutment collar, said abutment collar and its sleeve being adapted to beV moved to compress said compression spring when said draw-bar is pulled to start said car, and its abutment collar being arranged to engage -said housing box after said car is started, without compressing the coils lof said spring to such extent that they bear the same against the outer end of said sleeve,

whereby, when the eyed endY of the'draw-bar is forcibly drawnnponfthe spring is first compressed-by -the firstl mentioned `collar until the second mentioned Vcollar engages ythe endlof the `housingwhen the vforce ofy the pull is transferredfromthe spring tol the housing.

12. In a'deviceof the characterv described, the combinationwith a car: framegof-truck castings secured to said frame in pairs, having axle bearings and -central .transversely arrangedhousings; drawbars in saidhousings which extend -throughfand beyond the ends of said housings, thereby to connect with other cars,` a lsleeve on. each draw-barl which extends through one end of the housing, a collar on each draw-bar in the housing and abutting against the adjacent end'v of the housing andof Lt-he sleeve, afsecond collar on the draw-bar andl means fo-rholdingitv against the outer end of-the sleeve,.expfansion coil springs in the housings which surround the draw-bars and are interposed betweenfeach of the firstk mentionedcollars and the oppositefend of the housing, the sleevesbeing on the opposing ends =of the draw-bars, whereby, when either draw-bar-is forcibly drawn upon, itsspring is compressed by the first collariuntil the second-collar engages the housing, when the secondfspring is corn-` pressed until itssecond collar engages the housing, when the pull'is then transferred to the next car, the springs ofeach car being compressed before the drawing power isi transferred to the next succeeding caryand means forv preventing axial rotation ofthe draw-bars.

13. In a device-of the character described, the combination with a car frame,of a 'truck casting secured to said frame, lhaving axle bearings on each end whichterminate in cylindrical boxings,l and a transverse housing midway of the length of said casting, an axle extending through and beyond said bearings, wheels on fthe axleends having hollow hubswhich enter said boxings,vrollers interposed between the axles and lthe inner faces of the hubs, and means including a pin and a washer, for Asecuring said wheels to said axles, draw-bars in said housings having stops and springs for iirstreceiving the pull on saiddraw-barsbeforethe stops engage the housings.

14. Inl a device offthe'character described, the combination with laxle supporting castings having open topped transverse housings Centrally of their length; of draw-bars eX- tending through and beyond said housings, having stops on their opposing ends outside the housings, stops on said drew-bars Within the housings, and Compression coil springs surrounding said draw-bars and interposed between the latter stops and the opposite ends of the housings, whereby, when a forcible pull is exerted upon either draw-bar, its spring receives the force of the pull before the outer stop engages the housing, when the pull is transferred to the other spring, which receives the seine before its outer stop engages-the housing.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Gr. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH. 

